Hebrews 4:1 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

HEBREWS 4:1

Let Us Enter In

Let Us Enter In

It certainly behooves us to take a look back over history from time to time

There are many lessons that we can learn from both failures and mistakes of the past

Certainly the same is true of the Bible (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:11)

Let Us Enter In

It would be sad to have an example set for us and then we not heed it

This morning we want to look at and learn from an example set for us

This example concerns the Israelites and their failure to enter the Promised Land

Let Us Enter In

Hebrews 4 gives us the keys to being able to enter into our Promised Land

Caanan was a type of heaven

Hebrews 3:16-19 tells us that the Israelites failed to enter in

It was due to their disobedience and unbelief (3:18-19)

Let Us Enter In

What lessons can we learn from the failures that kept them from Caanan?

What can we do differently that can keep us from falling away in the same manner?

Hebrews 4 tells us what we can do to enter in…

Let Us Enter In

1. “Let Us Fear”

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (4:1)

The first thing we are told is that we should fear

Fear can be looked at a couple of different ways…

Let Us Enter In

1. “Let Us Fear”

Fear can be useless or harmful

Fear of man (Heb. 13:6)

Fear of poverty (Matt. 6:31, 33)

Fear of trials & temptations (Js. 1:2-3; Rom. 5:3-5)

Fear of death (Heb. 2:15; I Cor. 15:55-57)

Let Us Enter In

1. “Let Us Fear”

Fear can be useful or helpful

Fear lest we come short of heaven (v. 1)

Fear God (Prov. 1:7; Ecc. 12:13)

Speak with fear (I Pet. 3:15)

Save others with fear (Jude 23)

Let Us Enter In

1. “Let Us Fear”

Fear in this case can cause us to be sure that we are headed in the right direction

Ex. Fear of leaving plane tickets when going on a trip

Fear should be a motivation that we do not make the same mistake the Israelites did

Let Us Enter In

2. “Let Us Labor”

“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (4:11)

Being a faithful child of God doesn’t just happen to us

We have to be willing to strive to be who God wants us to be

Let Us Enter In

2. “Let Us Labor”

Continuing to work at being who God wants us to be keeps us from falling (I Cor. 10:12; II Pet. 1:5-9)

God sees our work (v. 13)

Jesus calls those who labor (Matt. 11:28)

Work of faith & labor of love (I Thess. 1:3)

Let Us Enter In

3. “Let Us Hold Fast”

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (4:14)

The confession referred to here would most certainly be our confession of faith in Jesus Christ

Let Us Enter In

3. “Let Us Hold Fast”

We need to hold fast in times of temptation, trials and tribulations

Christ is our example of this (I Pet. 2:21-22)

We have a reward if we endure until the end (Js. 1:12)

Let Us Enter In

4. “Let Us Come Boldly”

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time need” (4:16)

We will obviously need help during our own wandering in the wilderness

The Israelites too often turned to idols and the nations around them for help

Let Us Enter In

4. “Let Us Come Boldly”

God is to be our help, our strength and our refuge

When can approach His throne with confidence that He will hear our prayers and answer them (I Jn. 5:14-15)

We also have confidence in God Himself

Let Us Enter In

4. “Let Us Come Boldly”

We do it to obtain mercy, which is God’s forgiveness of our sins (I Jn. 1:9)

We also find grace...

To help – no one is self-sufficient

In time of need – our needs may vary